American Mary

Perhaps those willing to endure cold steel against warm flesh for aesthetic self expression are the ultimate fashion victims. Yet twisted twin directors Jen and Sylvia Soska present extreme body modification as anything but in this sinister tale of surgical revenge. Katharine Isabelle is the medical sculptor avenging a horrific sexual attack. She plays the part so very well, dry as vermouth and with tongue firmly in cheek.

If only the filmmakers could stitch their movie together as tightly as their master surgeon; at times editing causes confusion and certain narrative strands simply fade away. But it remains a thematic and visual victory, bathed in red, white and blue and with the kinky treat of Isabelle in a latex nurse's uniform. This may arguably contradict its feminist perspective but American Mary will certainly spark discussion, something these talented twins will surely continue to do within the horror genre. [Alan Bett]